Biology

Physiology

Moltres takes the form of a large bird with flame-colored plumage, resembling a phoenix. Its dazzling wings and elaborate head crest appear to be covered with flames. It has a straight, pointed brown beak that is the same color as its feet. Compared to the other legendary birds, it has the smallest feet and legs. It is the largest of the legendary birds, but its feathers make up a good portion of its bulk.

Gender differences

Moltres is a genderless species.

Special abilities

When Moltres flaps its wings, it creates a brilliant flash of flames. It is also one of the few Pokémon known to naturally wield the very powerful Flying-type move Sky Attack.

Behavior

Moltres is one of the legendary birds of Kanto, and is a poorly understood species, believed by many to be pure myth. Its behavior is largely clandestine, but it appears to migrate to the south during the springtime. There are many folktales surrounding this species, but perhaps the most popular is that its appearance will bring about an early spring. When Moltres flaps its wings, it sheds hundreds of tiny embers. It is believed that these embers have healing properties. If injured, it will immerse itself in lava to heal.

Habitat

Moltres appear to live in hot regions, particularly active volcanoes. They are spectacularly rare. Moltres have been sighted on Victory Road and near the Sevii Islands. One has been recently sighted, roamingSinnoh. Another, possibly the one from Victory Road, lives in Mt. Silver.

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Sabrina is shown to have obtained Moltres for Team Rocket during the Kanto saga, but it is not seen in battle. It is later combined with Articuno and Zapdos to form a singular legendary bird, but they separate once Sabrina is defeated and go back to the wild.

Green later catches Moltres on Mt. Ember during her training journey to overcome her fear of birds. She used it and its fellow legendary birds in the fight against Karen and Will, who were commanding the Masked Man's Ho-Oh and Lugia. She has not used any of them since, meaning they have probably been deposited in the box or released.

When released from a Poké Ball, Moltres will remain where it is released, flapping its wings. It will then use Sky Attack in Melee or Fly in Brawl to leave the arena. Any opponent that touches it will receive a sizable amount of damage. Moltres is the only legendary bird to return in Brawl.

Trophy Information

Melee

As tradition has it, the onset of spring heralds the return of this legendary Pokémon from its southern home. Its bright orange color and fiery aspect lends to its overwhelming appearance. Sky Attack, the strongest of flying moves, is a perfect fit for this burning phenom, but it obviously also excels at powerful Fire-type moves.

Brawl

"A Flame Pokémon. It's one of the legendary bird Pokémon. When Moltres appears in a town, it is said that spring will come earlier there than in other towns. If Moltres is injured, it apparently returns to a volcano to heal its wings with magma. Moltres spreads its wide, flame-covered wings and attacks opponents with the exciting and highly damaging Sky Attack."

Origin

Like Ho-Oh, Moltres is based on the legend of the phoenix. It is most likely based on either the Arabian phoenix or the Slavic Firebird. Others claim that the bird is based on the Japanese mythical bird known as 朱雀 Suzaku, guardian of the South, and is not a true phoenix. Regardless, the Pokémon has a very similar appearance to both the phoenix and the Suzaku. It may also be based on a heron or Bennu, because of their similarities in shape. It also embodies traits from a number of other firebirds, such as the three-legged bird.

Name origin

Moltres is a combination of molten and tres (Spanish for three, indicating that it is the third in the series of Kantolegendary birds). It may also derive from molt.